Last week I had an article about problems with newly built ammunition bunkers that cost taxpayers more than $13 million. The problems forced the Canadian military to remove high explosives and other bombs from the storage sites because of safety concerns.

Department of National Defence civilian crews worked overtime several weeks ago to remove the torpedoes, missiles and other explosives from the seven new storage magazines at Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Bedford in Nova Scotia.

The ammunition was moved to older bunkers at the site but now those are off limits to workers because of safety issues with asbestos, confirmed Lt. Cmdr. Greg Walker, the depot’s commanding officer.

The problems at the depot emerged after a recent safety inspection revealed flaws with the seven new ammunition bunkers opened in the fall. Officials discovered the bunkers, or magazines as the military calls them, were not covered with the required amount of gravel. The gravel is used to contain an accidental detonation inside the magazines.

In addition, some of the motors, which opened and closed the steel doors of the bunkers had malfunctioned.

Because of the problems, DND employees removed all the explosives and relocated those to older bunkers at the same depot.

But Walker said those buildings had not been properly maintained since they were slated for demolition. Paint on the inside walls had peeled off, releasing asbestos into the air, he added.

Walker said it will be up to DND officials and those officials from the Defence Construction Canada, the Crown Corporation which co-ordinated the project and signed off on the bunkers, to deal with contractors over any of the needed repairs.

But questions remain?

Why did Defence Construction Canada sign the acceptance of the bunkers when they didn’t meet safety specifications? Did no one conduct tests to see that the specific amount of gravel, required for safety, was used?

Did no one consider that engines that open the doors in summer might not be powerful enough to open the doors in winter, when there is snow?